Chapter 97
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: The Fake Apostle
In a small tavern in the adventure city of Kairan.
It was a clean place, free from the musty smells and the precarious creaks of rotting wood common to such establishments.
But it didn't seem to be in business, as it was rarely open, and it was a rather peculiar place, run by a single old man without any help.
However, for a small tavern, it offered a wide variety of drinks, and occasionally, people in elegant attire would visit, making it surprisingly popular.
Even the old sign, painted with the shape of a butterfly, was widely praised for its antique charm.
Aside from the rumor that thugs who tried to collect protection money would mysteriously disappear, it was the kind of hidden gem you might find in any city.
That was why none of the city's ordinary residents knew.
That this place was one of the branches of Psyche, the renowned information guild of the central region, and that the well-dressed customers who occasionally visited were people who came to buy information.
Nor did they know that even the city's widespread praise was all due to their machinations.
In one of Psyche's underground secret rooms, there were two old men.
One was the publicly known owner and bartender of the tavern, and the other was an old man with a white beard and a perfectly straight back, giving him a robust appearance.
He was draped in a slightly worn red cloth, and in one hand, he held a staff that looked well-used.
His expression, filled with a sense of mission, naturally gave the impression that he was no ordinary man.
“It seems the preparations are more or less complete.”
The man, the newly appointed branch manager of Kairan and still an active informant, smiled benignly.
“Of course… there are still a few rough edges, but it can’t be helped if we are to deceive them.”
At his satisfied expression, the old man next to the branch manager, Copis, saw his own expression instantly crumble.
A greedy face, his back hunched like a beggar's, and his hands, as if they had never been still, began to rub together like a miser's.
“Th-then, are you giving me the promised reward? It’s been three years! Three years! Just trick those heretics, and the gold coins…!”
“Your expression.”
At his changed demeanor, the branch manager spoke, still smiling benignly.
“Mind your expression, Copis. From now on, you are to play the part of none other than the Apostle of the Prophecy.”
“…R-right. I momentarily forgot my role…. But the money, I must receive the money, mustn’t I….”
“Hah.”
The branch manager stared at him with contempt. One would expect him to be intimidated by the look, but Copis didn’t stop talking.
“I-it was a contract! For a few years, I just had to pose as a false prophet among the heretics and say what you told me….”
“……”
“A-and you said you’d give me as many gold coins as I wanted! Because of that, I’ve suffered for years! I, I need the gold coins, the gold coins…!”
Ignoring the sinking mood, he demanded the gold with desperate eyes.
His current appearance made it hard to believe that just moments ago, he had projected an air of reverence, as if serving some noble purpose.
He looked less like the solitary prophet known to the world and more like a common gambling addict sprawled in a back alley.
“It’s been so hard all this time! Correcting my speech! Practicing my expressions and gestures! And at my age, you told me to build muscle, do you know how much…!”
“Braina.”
As if he could not bear to listen anymore, the branch manager called his subordinate.
*Creak—*
As if she had been waiting, a woman entered, carrying a massive sack of gold coins the size of a full-grown man.
“Gold coins… my gold coins!”
As the gold coins glittered from the sack, Copis shoved his entire upper body into it and rubbed his face against the coins.
Faced with such a vile sight, the branch manager had to suppress the urge to kill him on the spot.
‘…Truly, how can one be so vile.’
But if not for these conditions, they would never have been able to infiltrate the Cycle Cult.
The Cycle Cult could always find apostates.
Among people like the branch manager, there could be no one who did not follow ‘our’ cause, who did not believe in His prophecy.
That was why they had to use even beasts like him.
Because the only ones who did not devote themselves to religion and the cause were those mad for gambling and women, like him.
It had taken three years just to make his outward appearance resemble that of the wandering prophets of the world.
‘To think we have to entrust such a man with the role of dividing the Cycle Cult and aiding the Chosen One.’
The branch manager recalled the protagonist of the prophecy who had visited a few months ago and swallowed his disappointment.
It was frustrating that even if he supported him indirectly, he could not help him directly.
But what could be done? It was an order given personally by Lady Kasha, who directly receives His will.
“Well then, I have another client, so I will take my leave. You will make contact with the Cycle Cult tomorrow, so please be prepared.”
“Gold coins, hahaha! My lovely children…!”
Copis shook his head, as if no other sound could reach him.
The branch manager stared at him with cold eyes, then left the room, saying a client was waiting.
How much time passed after the branch manager left?
A young man, panting for breath, burst through the door.
*Bang—!*
“Sir Copis!”
He was one of those who would go with Copis to the Cycle Cult.
“Wh-what is it!”
Startled by the sudden loud noise, Copis, who had been stuffing his entire body into the sack, quickly turned around.
“Kadin, you! How many times have I told you not to disturb my precious time!”
“I-I’m sorry. No! That’s not what’s important!”
“Then what is so important…!”
“The Cycle Cult!”
Copis froze at the mention of the Cycle Cult. A sense of foreboding washed over him. He had just received a portion of his guaranteed reward and was rejoicing, so what on earth…?
“An Apostle of the Prophecy has appeared in the Cycle Cult!”
“…What?”
For a moment, he couldn’t comprehend the words.
But as if it were related to his gold, his mind spun rapidly, and his face turned pale.
“An Apostle? Then what about me? What about my gold coins?”
His mind began to calculate quickly. If time passed like this, he wouldn’t get any more gold. So, what was the solution? He quickly thought of a way.
“How long has it been?”
“Pardon?”
“How long has it been since the news of a new Apostle started circulating!”
When he shouted, the young man thought for a moment before answering quickly.
“A day! No, it’s only been seventeen hours!”
“Is that so…?”
If it had only been that long since the Apostle appeared, the confusion wouldn’t be too great even if he was replaced by a new Apostle.
What must he do to the Apostle currently in place if he were to become the Apostle himself?
“Let’s go!”
“…Pardon? Where to?”
“No, bring everyone!”
Seeing his dazed expression, Copis, whose face had hardened at the vision of his gold flying away, shouted loudly.
“The guys going with me, arm them all and bring them here!”
“Y-yes, sir!”
While the young man went to fetch the others, Copis ran to the place where information was stored.
“Sir Copis, what is this…!”
“Out of my way! This has all been approved by the branch manager! Are you going to take responsibility if you stop me?”
He shouted them down and brazenly searched for the information on the newly emerged Apostle.
Fortunately, the information seemed to have just come in. He found it quickly, and before the branch manager could notice, he grabbed the documents and left.
Headed for the place where the new Apostle was said to have appeared.
A little before the Psyche branch fell into this turmoil, the branch manager was in the middle of taking a request from a man.
“So, the information you desire concerns the rumors about demons circulating among the public, is that correct?”
“Yes.”
“And you don’t care how much the fee is?”
“The more, the better. I’ll throw in an extra bonus for it.”
Faced with a high-profile request after a long time, the branch manager pondered how to proceed.
‘A person of interest at the academy, a promising talent with a bright future, currently the top student…’
If he could form a connection with him now and subtly influence his movements, he could help the Chosen One.
Just as he, feeling regret over the matter with Copis, was about to give a positive answer, a commotion erupted from outside.
—Out of my way! The branch manager…
—What is the meaning of…
His face hardened at the unwelcome noise. He bowed his head to his client.
“My apologies. It seems something has happened at the branch. I will investigate first and contact you again.”
He needed to build a good relationship with this client if he wanted to influence his actions later on.
“Of course, this won’t be the end of it, right?”
“…Yes, as a token of my apology, I will accept this request free of charge.”
At the unplanned offer of a free service, both the branch manager and the black-haired man, Haizel, smiled brightly.
“Then I’ll be back in a few days.”
* * *
The day after the Cycle’s Festival ended, Allen left the city early in the morning with Iliana, who had come to see him.
She had wanted to ask if he could fix her body from the moment they met. She was bewildered when they left the city, but when he told her the method was nearby, she forced herself to accept it.
At the very least, he was the disciple of her grandfather, the Beast King.
Now that he was his disciple, he had no reason to harm her.
And so, Allen led her to the large rock they had visited yesterday.
She wore a puzzled expression. What could possibly be in a place like this? She turned around.
But just as she was about to speak to Allen, an overwhelming wave of drowsiness washed over her.
“…Sir Allen, there’s nothing here… I’m suddenly sleepy… ah.”
*Thump—*
Allen caught her before her body could slump to the ground and spoke.
“You can come out now.”
No sooner had he spoken than a crack in the rock widened, and a group of figures walked out.
“Krhit, Apostle! Aggressive! Hrhit, hrhit, kidnapping!”
“He says the Apostle’s methods are truly aggressive and intense, almost like a kidnapping.”
Behind Rotting Root, Hamel watched him with a sly grin.
“It can’t be helped, as we cannot reveal the face of the Cycle Cult.”
Allen hadn’t wanted to forcibly render Iliana unconscious either. But how could he possibly tell her that her cure would come from the Cycle Cult, branded as heretics, and from one of the five Prophets who led them?
It was doubtful she would even believe in the cure, and she would try to uncover the relationship between Allen and them.
That was why Allen had no choice but to use a somewhat rough method.
「Still, you can’t deny you look like a kidnapper.」
‘…I plan to offer a proper apology later.’ Allen didn’t deny Vestla’s words. Even to his own eyes, bringing a young girl out of the city and knocking her unconscious didn’t look good.
“I’m counting on you.”
“Khehehe!”
“He says to leave it to him.”
Allen laid her down so she was facing the sky and, just in case, took a position by her side.
Even though they had accepted him as an Apostle, it was still difficult to trust them completely.
They seemed to understand, as they said nothing about Allen’s actions. Of course, Rotting Root paid his actions no mind.
“Kahak!”
Rotting Root pricked his fingertip with a dagger, and a drop of blood fell.
Most goblins cannot use special abilities.
There are a few goblins who use shamanism, but they are extremely rare sorcerers. In that context, his ability, said to be the only one among goblins to have awakened fairy blood, was fascinating.
「…It seems the story about awakening fairy blood wasn’t a lie, was it?」
Vestla’s surprised tone was palpable. Allen agreed with her. Before and after his regression, it had only been a rumor, but it couldn't compare to seeing it firsthand.
The Third Prophet’s blood was a milky white.
A color of blood one would never believe could come from a goblin’s body.
The white blood that emerged fell onto her solar plexus and was absorbed without resistance.
After that, Iliana’s complexion changed. Her somewhat pale face twisted as if in agony, she let out a series of pained groans, and black smoke began to rise from her body.
How much time passed like that?
Only when the black smoke stopped flowing did his green skin turn as pale as a sheet, and he stepped back.
“Kiheh, hek…”
“He says the healing of the body was a success.”
Checking her again, her face was peaceful.
Now, if left alone, she would wake up naturally.
Allen expressed his gratitude to them. No matter that it was a promise, judging by his complexion, it couldn't have been an easy task.
“Thank you.”
“Kehet…”
“He says it was a reward, so it was only natural. And…”
As if it were too bothersome to speak, Rotting Root met Hamel’s eyes and nodded. Hamel, understanding his signal, spoke.
“He says the curse was difficult even for him to handle. If the remaining power of the curse had been even slightly stronger, it would have been difficult.”
“Kek!”
“Of course, he says that since he has already resolved it, it was nothing.”
If the remnants of a curse she had already received and recovered from were this potent…
‘What on earth happened to her?’
Allen didn’t know much about her. Only the information that circulated among the public.
That while the Beast King was away, his tribe was attacked by vampires, and Iliana was the sole survivor. And that the enraged Beast King had wandered the continent for some time in search of the one responsible for the attack.
Allen vaguely sensed that the ‘three years’ the Beast King had mentioned was also connected to this incident.
“Kehek, now! Go! Khrhup! First! Kh, we! Apostle!”
Turning his head, he saw that the remaining High Priests of the Cycle Cult and their party had finished their preparations to leave.
“Then, we have matters to attend to, so we will depart first. He wishes the Apostle a peaceful journey.”
“If anything comes to mind in the future, I will contact you immediately.”
At his words, Rotting Root gave a brisk nod.
“Then, Apostle, farewell.”
“May the rest of your journey be comfortable, and may you be strong in the blessings of the Cycle.”
“We will summon you for the next Grand Assembly.”
With those final words, they departed swiftly.
Allen watched until their figures disappeared over the horizon before lowering his head.
“…She’s sleeping well.”
Allen moved her body into the shade and waited for her to wake up.
As the light that had made the world transparent was tinged with crimson, and the moon faintly revealed itself at the other end of the sky, a sound was heard.
“Umm… hmm, uh?”
Allen turned his head and saw Iliana propping herself up, patting the ground around her in confusion.
“Huh? Where am I… I’m sure.”
“Lady Iliana.”
“Ah, really, don’t call me Lady… Sir Allen?”
Her senses returning, she snapped her head in the direction of the voice.
“Why are you… no, wait a minute, I suddenly got sleepy…”
As her memory returned, her gaze began to sharpen.
“Sir Allen, you’d better explain yourself. Why am I here?”
She shouted as she checked her clothes.
“Of course, I should. First, I offer my apologies, and as for the reason why I did it…”
Allen was about to calmly explain her physical condition first. That his actions just now were not to threaten her but to heal her.
Seeing her hostile expression, it was clear she was misunderstanding something.
—*Rumble-rumble-rumble*
But before he could continue, Allen’s head turned to stare at the edge of the horizon.
“What’s that…”
A cloud of dust, the ground-shaking tremors, and screams that seemed to tear at the throat.
“There they are! There! Get them! Get them! No, kill them!”
A band of marauders had appeared.